We are sad to hear the news of Clark Gruening’s passing. Clark was a founding Foraker board member and one of our first board chairs. We are grateful for his visionary leadership, thoughtfulness, and kind heart as he helped us navigate the early years. Clark was also an inspirational leader for many other Alaska nonprofits and philanthropic organizations. We send his family and all Alaskans who experienced his generosity our deepest condolences. … Read more »

Our latest report details pay inequity in the state’s nonprofit sector, and guess what? We have work to do, and together we can lead the way. Join us on July 1 at 1:00 pm to learn what the data says about the nonprofit workforce and hear about steps your organization can take to promote gender pay equity. Through a partnership with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Economic Development, Alaska data on the pay gap is easier to ascertain than in other states. Here is how it works: through careful and confidential efforts, the Department of Labor compiles data on pay rates for various job classifications. Researchers then used employer identification numbers (EINs) to identify nonprofit employees. Finally, they applied gender information from permanent fund dividend data. As… Read more »

During our recent annual meeting, the Governance Board elected several new board members. Welcome to our new Governance Board Members: Bryan Butcher – CEO/Executive Director, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (Bryan is a returning board member!) Grier Hopkins – Mayor of Fairbanks North Star Borough Curtis McQueen – Executive Director, Alaska Native Village Corporation Association Pearl Brower will remain our Governance Board Chair and Pat Branson will remain our Secretary/Treasurer. Welcome to our new Statewide Advisory Council Members (formerly known as the Operations Board): Roy Agloinga, President & CEO, First Alaskans Institute Eric Utraq Billingsley, President & CEO, United Way of Anchorage Mark Lackey, Executive Director, CCS Early Learning Marie-Sylvestre Olesen, Executive Director, Fairbanks Concert Association Mindy O’Neall, Executive Director, Cold Climate Housing Research Center Ivy Spohnholz, Alaska State Director, The Nature Conservancy… Read more »

What’s Next? If you are a West Wing fan, you hear that question when the voice of Martin Sheen as President of the United States takes on one big thing after another. And so, that is what we will also do as this election season draws to a conclusion. For some of you, this election was a high point, and for others, a low point — certainly, it brought a response that resonated deeper than a person or a political party. Regardless, I feel certain that not everyone experienced the election the same, nor will we experience the consequences of the decisions made by the American people the same. During the pandemic, it was an often-used metaphor that “we are swimming in the same ocean, but we are not in the… Read more »

We want to hear from you! What are the greatest barriers you face in your ability to meet your mission? What would strengthen your capacity? We’re conducting research with four other states – Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho – to gain a comprehensive look at the sector across the Northwest. Foraker will share the survey trends with funders and use the redults to reflect on our strategies to better meet your needs here in Alaska. Your organization’s participation will allow us to provide you with an analysis of how your nonprofit compares to others in the region in these categories: Mission – direction and priorities Human – leadership, staff, volunteers Governance – board and oversight Culture – team and well-being Strategy – programs, services, and innovation Resources – fund development… Read more »

The Foraker Group seeks an adaptive individual with high emotional intelligence and an interest in joining a fun, collaborative team as a Leadership Transition Guide.  In support of nonprofits experiencing a change in leadership, the Leadership Transition Guide leads multi-phased consulting projects using a holistic approach and is part of a team of organizational development staff, consultants, and recruiters who partner with Alaska nonprofits through well-managed leadership transitions. In addition to managing a portfolio of leadership transition projects, the Guide will collaborate internally to continually improve our service.  The ideal candidate will have a passion for supporting the advancement of nonprofits and growth of people, a strong ability to act strategically, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more here…. Read more »

After more than 15 years of service to us and Alaska’s nonprofits, Rebecca Savidis has announced her resignation from Foraker. Rebecca initially came to us to pursue potential solutions to the challenge of providing adequate health insurance coverage for our sector.  At the same time, she applied her HR experience to enhancing and expanding our offerings and has been a valued member of our leadership team. Whether supporting Foraker’s internal HR function or working with organizations around the state, Rebecca has brought professionalism and compassion to her work. She is well respected by Alaska’s nonprofits. Over the years, she has helped organizations in need of critical HR support to navigate complex situations and develop HR functions that support their mission and their people. Rebecca’s last day with Foraker is April… Read more »

Are you an Alaska nonprofit or tribal leader? Do you want to enhance your management skills and explore new techniques to effectively lead your organization? The Foraker Certificate in Nonprofit Management features courses focused on issues facing Alaska nonprofits and provides access to a network of fellow professionals. Applications are now open for the 2024 cohort. The deadline to apply is June 7. Learn more here…. Read more »

Foraker seeks an organized individual with a solutions-based approach to serve as its Operations Manager.  Foraker’s Operations Manager will be responsible for creating, implementing, and updating operational infrastructure and systems to build on Foraker’s recent growth and position the organization for fulfilling its purpose – to strengthen Alaska’s nonprofits – into the future.  The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with strong communication and collaboration skills and at least three years of experience managing operational projects. You can learn more about the position here…. Read more »

January is a time when we hold our annual meeting per our bylaws. We take care of Foraker’s business at this meeting including a review of our audit and our investments. It is a big day and one that makes me feel proud that we are doing all we can to support Foraker as a strong business that is working to strengthen Alaska’s nonprofits. Foraker’s board structure is unique compared to state associations and capacity building organizations. Our two statewide boards oversee Foraker. The Governance Board is responsible for legal, financial, and mission stewardship, and the Operations Board keeps us connected to the sector we serve. The Governance Board is comprised of leaders from the for-profit sector, local and tribal governments, higher education, and key philanthropies. It ensures that Foraker… Read more »